Author's Note: Glad to see so many people are still reading! I would absolutely love it if you'd review and let me know what you think!
Chapter Fifteen - Baby Steps
"Tell me we don't have to go back to work tomorrow." Tony sighed, stretching out on the sand.
"We do not have to go back to work tomorrow." Ziva repeated sleepily, rolling over to her stomach.
"Now say it and mean it." They both laughed. Tony had kept good on his promise to take Ziva somewhere with sand, booking a quaint but luxurious bed and breakfast on the Virginia coast where they had spent the previous two nights. They had already checked out of their accommodation, but with the car packed and time to kill, they had chosen to spend the last few hours on the beach before driving home.
"Unfortunately I cannot do that. This was absolutely perfect however, thank you." She turned her head to face him, reaching a hand to rest on his chest. He had purposefully chosen a secluded beach so that Ziva could wear the promised bikini, this one a deep burnt orange, without having too many people stop to stare at the bruise on her thigh, which as Ducky had predicted now resembled an impressionist painting.
"Happy to oblige Sweetcheeks. Would have liked a few more days here with you though."
"Absolutely." Checking that the beach was still empty, she moved to straddle him. "I like what being on holiday does to us Tony." As well as the obligatory meals out, walks on the beach, and swimming, they had also found plenty of time during the weekend to enjoy each other, and the king bed in their room. His hands came up to rest on her waist, fingers stroking in the small of her back.
"I could tell... so could the neighbours" Tony raised an eyebrow with a smirk. Giving his arm a playful swat, she bent to kiss him. He tangled his hand in her hair with a sigh and kissed her deeply in return until they broke apart for air. "You drive me crazy in all the right ways Ms David."
"The feeling is mutual." She squeezed his hips with her knees, stamping another kiss on his mouth. His hands crept to the waistband of her bikini bottoms and she pinched his collarbone. "Not another inch, DiNozzo. This is a public beach." Tony grumbled under his breath, but moved his hands back to her waist, and she released him with another gentle kiss.
"Sorry Zi. But the day I don't find you unbelievably sexy will be the day that I die." He smirked, starting to hum a melody.
"You are not so bad yourself." She smiled, flattered and kissed him one more time, climbing down and lying alongside him. He tucked his arm around her so she was resting on his chest. Tony began to add words to his tune, and Ziva let her eyes flutter closed, dozing lightly for a while. It wasn't till her phone buzzed from her bag that they stirred again.
"That better not mean what I think it does" Tony groaned.
"It does." Ziva nodded, "We have to leave if we want to get back with enough time to rest before work. Otherwise tomorrow might be the day we die, Gibbs will see to that... What is American Pie anyway?" She referenced the song he had been singing as she shook out her towel and began to roll it up.
"It means I never have to work again." Tony quipped, then laughed at her confused face. "There is so much about American culture I still have to teach you."
"Well, if your plan to teach me involves lying on the beach while you sing, then consider me a willing student." They headed towards the car.
Unfortunately the pleasant holiday buzz wore off the second they were back at work. They were met by the kind of case they hoped only to see in nightmares; authorities alerted due to neighbours hearing the sounds of a fight, the ransacked house, the terrified toddler hiding in the coat closet, his very pregnant mother missing, presumed abducted and the father on a training mission at sea.
Thankfully it seemed the break in and abduction were sloppy at best, the van neighbours had reported seeing speeding away was picked up on traffic cameras, and not long after lunchtime (by the clock, not by the meals they had eaten, Ziva had shared a couple of granola bars from her bag with them while on the road, but that was it) the MCRT were following the leads to an old warehouse not far from the house they had been called to earlier.
A quick perimeter search didn't bode well, the suspect van that had been reported to have parked outside was gone, and the place appeared empty. It wasn't until a low moan caught their ears that the team realised someone was inside, and traced the noise to an external office door. The moan came again, followed by knocking from inside.
"Is anyone there? Hello?" It was a woman's voice, exhausted and terrified.
"Hannah Abrams?" Gibbs called, "I'm special Agent Gibbs, NCIS."
"Oh thank goodness! I can't open the door, they've done something to the lock." Tears of relief were evident through the steel door. There was no external handle, only a lock for a deadbolt, which had been sprayed with some kind of foam filler that had set hard, ruling out Ziva's work with a lockpick.
"Tony, crowbar." Gibbs ordered, sending his senior agent off at a sprint. "Is there anything you need?"
"Ambulance, I'm... " She gasped, trailing off with another moan.
"We are calling now." Ziva responded, seeing McGee whip out his phone, "We will be in as soon as we can, are you alone?"
"Yes... They just left me here..." that same low moan again, longer this time. Tony had returned puffing, with the crowbar, but it made no particular difference at prying the door open and breaking the lock.
"There's a window here, boss." McGee pointed.
"Get in, go through and try to get the delivery door up. Ziva, you stay here, talk to Hannah, keep her away from the window. McGee, we'll meet you round the front." Gibbs ordered. The crowbar found some use then, and with the shards cleared, Tony boosted Tim up and through the small gap. Hearing him scrabble to the floor, and land with a thud, the remaining men raced back to the large roller door. Some anxious minutes later, the door scraped up a foot or so, and McGee's sweaty face appeared in the space.
"Internal door to the office was locked from the outside, so I had to break it down." He offered by way of explaining how long it took. "Mechanism on this one is rusted out, don't think it's going up any further." They took the hint, shimmying on their stomachs under the door.
"Where is she McGee?" Gibbs queried. Tim gestured to the office, the warehouse was a maze of boxes, pallets and old furniture, and the four quickly wove a path toward the small room. "She hurt?"
"Uhh... Not exactly..." Tim hesitated.
"What do you mean not exactly?" Gibbs demanded. The answer was clear enough as they reached the office and saw the woman leaning forward onto a dilapidated desk, panting heavily. "Ahh... Tim, call the bus and let them know we've got a woman in labour, Tony get back out there and get that door up, the medics are going to need to get in. Hannah, we'll get you to the hospital as soon as we can. Ziva, come round, the roller went up enough to crawl under." He added through the sealed door.
"No time," Hannah groaned, her knees bowing beneath the strength of the contraction. As it passed she shook her head and faced the team, rubbing the small of her back. "Waters broke two... maybe three hours ago, I don't have my watch... Then they panicked and dumped me. The baby will be here before the ambulance." Despite still being in her nightie, her blonde hair loose and matted, and bind marks on her wrists, she appeared remarkably collected. There was a thud behind them, Ziva had found her own way in the window rather than running the entire perimeter of the warehouse again.
"Ok Mrs Abrams, what do you need?" Gibbs blew out a deep breath.
"Blankets, and someone to catch. I'm a midwife, I'll talk you through it..." Her voice faded off and a look of deep concentration appeared on her face as she reached for Gibbs for support.
"I got you." He let her weight fall onto his arms as she swayed her hips. He kept his voice low as he continued giving instructions. "Tim, update the ambulance and tell them to be quick and Tony, get the blankets and first aid kit from the van. Ziva, stay with her. I'll work on the door."
"Tell them 39 weeks, no complications." Hannah panted, leaving Gibbs's touch to pace the room.
"Gibbs, I have never delivered a baby..." Ziva began doubtfully. The two male agents had scattered, relieved to be given tasks outside of the dingy room, which it appeared - if Hannah's latest contraction was anything to go by - was about to become a delivery suite.
"Far as I figure David, the only one of us who has, is the one having the baby. Just do what she says." He left quickly to work on getting the rusted roller door to move, leaving the two women alone.
"Where's Noah?" Hannah's face cleared suddenly as the pain passed, her voice turned panicked and she reached for Ziva's hand.
"Your son is safe, Mrs Abrams." Ziva reassured her. "You have a very brave, very smart little boy. He had locked himself in the closet. We have taken him to NCIS, and your sister has been called to collect him."
"Oh!" Her relieved sigh was cut short, and she leaned heavily into Ziva, who instinctively wrapped her arms around her shoulders to support her. "Call me Hannah" She added when it passed.
"Hannah, what do you need me to do?" Ziva tried to steady her voice, bracing her body as Hannah sank against her, her voice taking on an odd, grunting tone.
"Found these too." Tony skidded into the room, holding an armful of tablecloths and tea towels, it seemed some of the boxes had held restaurant supplies.
"Spread the big ones out. I can't stop myself from pushing." Hannah panted, burying her face against Ziva's shoulder with another cry. Tony saw her fingers clench against Ziva's shoulder blades and hurried to do as he'd been told.
"Done, I'm going help the boss with the roller." Having laid out the larger cloths over the dusty floor, the blankets and smaller towels on the desk, Tony beat a path to the door. As he passed, Hannah lifted her head from Ziva's shoulder, holding her hand out to Tony.
"Help." With a nervous grimace, returned by Ziva, Tony took Hannah's hand and between them they helped her stagger to the 'nest' of sorts that he'd made.
"I need clean gloves..." Ziva murmured, reaching for the first aid kit. As another contraction rolled over, Hannah turned fully to Tony, who found himself supporting her as she slowly sank to her knees on the tablecloth. He stood awkwardly as the woman supported herself on his waist. "Hannah, you need to tell me what to do," Ziva asked. The blonde nodded an affirmative against Tony's belly.
"I'm just going to leave you to it..." Tony tried to extract himself.
"Stay, please... It helps to have someone to hold onto..." Hannah faded off with another heaving breath, pausing as her body tightened harder. "Ziva, take some towels, and get behind me. You'll need to take my underwear off."
"Tony, please. I need someone on my six." Ziva added, her eyes meeting his. Awkwardness be damned, she needed him.
"Uhhh, sure..." Tony agreed uncomfortably, reaching behind with one hand to drag a box to sit on, keeping his eyes fixed on the top of the blonde head so as not to see as Ziva slowly followed directions, folding the hem of the nightie up over her hips and using the scissors from the first aid kit to cut the sides of her underwear. He stiffly waited as she knelt between his knees, her arms passing over his and around his neck, so it quickly turned out it was easiest for him to lean forward and embrace her. "Shouldn't you be laying down or something?"
"Get back to me when you're in labour!" Hannah snapped, he murmured an apology as her grip tightened around him, his own arms tightening in response.
"I can see the top of the baby's head!" Ziva called anxiously. Hannah nodded, and kept pushing.
"Just support the head - don't pull. I'll do the rest." Hannah turned her head briefly to catch Ziva's eye, feeling her hesitance. "All you have to do is catch." Ziva nodded, schooling her face into a far more confident expression than she felt.
There were longer pauses between each push, though each one increased in strength. During each surge, Ziva's eyes remained on the baby's head but found Tony's eyes in each quiet spell. Tony continued supporting Hannah at her front, his eyes locked on Ziva's face every time she glanced up at him. Although they hadn't realised it, every time Hannah pushed, they both began a quiet but steady chant of encouraging, reassuring words, delivered perfectly in unison, and holding each other's gaze in silence in between. Hannah was quiet during the pauses as well, resting her head on Tony's shoulder and breathing deeply, although she made a strange sort of humming noise when she pushed.
The head is out! I can see its face." This time, Ziva's voice was less nervous, and distinctly awed. Tony glanced at Ziva, and noticed though her mouth was set tightly, her eyes were soft, amazed as she focused on her cupped hands. It seemed to him only seconds, vaguely aware of Hannah instructing Ziva how to check for the cord and the way the shoulders would rotate, before a long white shape slithered into Ziva's hands.
"Under my legs..." Hannah pushed against Tony's legs and he helped her rise to her knees so Ziva could pass the baby to her. "You're a girl! Hello baby!" Hannah's face lit up and she beamed at Tony. Suddenly he realised the slippery wet thing now in front of him was a real live baby, and he reached for a towel, placing it over the little body as it rested against her mother's chest. He shook out one of the emergency blankets and draped it over Hannah's shoulders.
"She has not cried... Is she well?" Ziva asked after a few moments. She was still kneeling behind Hannah, unable to see as the woman cooed and welcomed the baby.
"Yes, not all babies cry." Hannah replied, her eyes not leaving her daughter, as she gently rubbed her back and blew a soft breath onto her face. "She's absolutely fine."
"Tony?" Ziva queried, glancing at him for reassurance. He glanced down at Hannah as she tilted her baby slightly toward his gaze. Her eyes were open, and she was making soft gurgling sounds, and pulled a reactive grimace as Hannah puffed gently again.
"May I?" Hannah nodded at his outstretched hand, which he tentatively placed on the top of the baby's head. The fuzz of blonde hair was damp against her scalp, and was softer than anything he had ever felt before. "She's perfect," he found himself reassuring Ziva.
"Can you help me sit more comfortably? She's a little cold, I need to get her under my shirt and against my skin. Then I want a couple more blankets on top of us." Hannah's doting maternal voice had taken on a professional tone. It took a few minutes before mother and baby were settled, Hannah sitting upright, leaning against some boxes, a rolled tablecloth serving as a pillow. "Ziva, lift her from me for just a second, not far, just enough so I can open my neckline... yes, now place her back on my skin. Tony, we'll have that blanket now."
By the time they'd finished, the baby was pink and warm, nestled against her mother and breathing evenly. Outside they noticed a grating noise, which became louder, as the door finally rolled up. In response, the baby flinched and cried. Ziva and Tony caught each others' eyes, although Hannah had said the baby was fine, it wasn't until they heard her wail that they'd truly believed it, and let out a breath they didn't know they'd been holding.
"We all good?" Gibbs knocked on the door frame softly. Hannah looked exhausted but overjoyed, Ziva and Tony, one kneeling each side of her barely noticed his presence, still too awed by the tiny, but whole, human that hadn't been there just a few minutes earlier.
"Yes boss, little girl." Tony glanced up momentarily, before finding his eyes drawn back to the newborn.
"Not so little!" Hannah laughed. "She's 9 pounds I'd say."
"She is so tiny!" Ziva exclaimed.
"We all start out small, David." Gibbs chuckled. He turned his head, hearing footsteps behind him. "Ambulance still isn't here yet. You two get out there and help McGee make room for a trolley. Soon as Hannah and her daughter are out of here, we've got to check this scene for evidence. LEO's picked up the van about half an hour ago, and the suspects with it. They're waiting in an interrogation room at the Base." The footsteps proved to be Tim, puffing, scene camera in hand.
"Hey, boss... I took a minute to run out to the van. I thought Ensign Abrams might like to see his daughter. Mrs Abrams?" She nodded, smiling up at the camera. "I can send these to his ship as soon as I'm back at NCIS. Ambulance just got here, I figured there might not be another chance for a while."
"Good thinking, McGee." Gibbs said softly. The younger agent snapped a few photos quickly, a couple close up of the baby's face, and a wider angle with Ziva and Tony still flanking the new mother. The paramedics entered the room then, heading straight for Hannah and the baby, and the four watched in silence while they checked over the newborn.
"She looks good, you've done well." One of them announced. "Hannah, would you like to cut the cord?"
"Ziva, Tony? Would one of you like to do the honours?" She glanced up at the two agents, "You helped make this a lot easier than it started out being."
"They both can if you'd like. Here." The lead medic placed the scissors in Ziva's hand, showing her where to cut, and helping Tony curl his hands around hers. As they squeezed the handles together, they heard the sound of a camera shutter.
"That'll do McGee. You and DiNozzo go clear that maze of boxes, Ziva start dusting for prints. Hannah, we'll be in to take your statement as soon as the doc gives us the all clear." At Gibb's command, Tony got to his feet, offering his hand to Ziva, who bent to rub the feeling back into her knees.
"Let me have a shower and a nap, and I'll answer anything you want, Agent Gibbs." The baby whimpered against her chest, and her attention dropped "Hi sweet thing, are you hungry?"
"That's our cue," Gibbs, realising his agents were still not entirely present, placed a firm hand on each of their shoulders. "C'mon, Doctor David, Nurse DiNozzo. We've still got work to do."
By the end of the day, the evidence spoke clearly enough for itself. Prints at Hannah's home, and the warehouse matched the men picked up with the van, and Tony had found several cans of foam filler under the passenger seat, the van normally being used for building construction, which Abby had matched to the sample taken from the warehouse lock, not to mention she'd proved that the soggy carpet in the cargo space was wet with amniotic fluid and blood that matched Hannah's. Ziva had found a history between the men in question and Ensign Abrams - a disciplinary issue that had seen them both suspended without pay, pending further investigation. Finally, a little Gibbs-style stare had the men admitting the abduction had been intended as a warning to Abrams to rescind the report they knew he'd made which would see them dishonourably discharged, but took an unexpected turn when Hannah's labour had begun
"Thank you for your help Mrs Abrams." Gibbs stood up, he had gone to visit Hannah in hospital and take her statement. "I don't think we'll need any more of your time."
"Thank you again, Agent Gibbs... what's going on out there?" She looked past him to the hospital corridor outside her room. Her daughter slept quietly in the bassinet while she reclined comfortably in bed.
"Looks like you have some visitors, only if you feel up to it." Gibbs responded, spotting Tony and Ziva hovering hopefully outside the door.
"Let them in. I'd like to say thankyou to my birth team one more time."
"Get in here." Gibbs said with an eye roll. Tony and Ziva entered the room, armed with presents, whispering hushed congratulations. Tony settled a pink plush bunny at the foot of the clear plastic bassinet and tied a shiny foil "It's a girl" balloon to its base.
"Everyone's gotta know there's a little principessa on board." He offered with a sheepish grin. Ziva put the plug in the sink and turned on the tap for a moment, placing a bunch of white tulips into the water.
"Thank you, this is so special." Hannah bit back a grateful sob. "I can promise you, I'm not going to forget how she came into the world! Or the people who helped her get here safely... I haven't had the chance to introduce her to anyone else yet, my sister can't come in with Noah and her kids too, and Jacob's ship doesn't dock till next Friday. So, everyone, I'd like you to meet Naomi."
"That is a lovely name," Ziva said sincerely.
"I was hoping you'd like it." Hannah looked up to meet Ziva's eyes where she stood at the foot of the bed. "With your permission, I'd like her name to be Naomi Ziva."
"That would be an honour." Ziva whispered, surprised by the quick sting of tears in her eyes. She felt the warm weight of a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder - Gibbs.
"Hey, what about me?" Tony griped playfully.
"I had a Great-Aunt Antonia. She smelled like mothballs and had a 5 o'clock shadow!" Hannah burst out, to the sound of mutual laughter. "Would you like to hold her Ziva?"
"I do not know how... I have never held a baby so small."
"You held her this afternoon, David." Gibbs offered quietly, reminding Ziva that this same baby had been born into her hands 6 hours earlier. "One hand under her head, one under her butt, there's nothing to it."
"Go ahead, pick her up," Hannah urged. A nurse wove her way into the room, delivering Hannah's dinner on a tray, and emanating quiet disapproval at the crowd as she left. "Who knows when I'll next get the chance to eat with both hands? Cuddle your heart out." Awkwardly Ziva followed instructions, and a second later, the baby was nestled in the crook of her arm.
"Hello shaifeleh, it is wonderful to meet you." She whispered. The tiny pink face creased for a moment at the disturbance and Ziva instinctively lifted the baby closer to press a kiss to her forehead, whispering in Hebrew. Her whole body language had changed, her posture softer as she swayed in a gently soothing motion neither Tony nor Gibbs had seen from her before.
"She's beautiful." Tony murmured to no one in particular, Gibbs didn't need clarification to know 'she' was Ziva as she lifted the baby to her shoulder, resting her cheek against the downy blonde head, her eyes closed as she hummed softly. Tony quietly pulled out his phone to capture a photo. "Alright, Zi, quit hogging her, it's my turn." He moved closer, the baby waking as she was transferred to his arms.
"Hey little one," Cloudy grey eyes opened to meet his, and fingers like sea anemones stretched wide. Tucking the baby more firmly into his elbow, Tony lifted his free hand to place his thumb against the tiny palm, watching as the miniscule fingers wrapped around it. "Here's the deal with Uncle Tony, no crying, no puking and no pooping - got it kiddo?" He moved his thumb gently, a mock handshake. Although everyone chuckled at this, there was a respectful silence when it came to Gibbs' turn. He scooped the baby out of Tony's arms with practised ease, settling down on the one visitor chair. He shifted the baby gently so she lay along his forearm, her head in his hand and his elbow resting on his knees.
"Well, little lady. It is my duty and my privilege to welcome Honorary Special Agent Naomi Ziva Abrams to the team." He shifted and drew an NCIS cap from his jeans pocket, balancing it softly on the baby's head, using his fingers to stop the adult sized headwear from falling over her face.
"Visiting hours are over." The same nurse appeared at the doorway. Gibbs lifted the baby close, and kissed her forehead, whispering words only meant for her ears. He rose, and with the same familiar confidence, placed the baby back in her bassinet, readjusting the swaddle so she remained snug and peaceful, the cap he handed to Hannah.
"Thank you again." She said, "I know I keep saying it, but if Naomi had to be born in a warehouse, I'm glad it was NCIS who came to the rescue."
"All part of the service ma'am." Tony quipped, tipping an invisible hat. After a round of hugs, and bending over the crib to offer one last kiss to the sleeping baby, they were headed towards the hospital carpark.
Fresh from the shower, Ziva slipped an oversize t-shirt over her head and crawled into bed beside Tony, handing him a brush and hair elastic. The sweet promise at the beginning of their relationship was now a nightly ritual, one they both enjoyed equally.
"You were pretty great today." Tony leaned forward to press a kiss to the top of her head.
"I could not have done it without you." Ziva leaned back into him.
"You have no idea what it took to keep me in that room, Zi. If Hannah hadn't been holding on to me for dear life, I would have been out of there faster than Forrest Gump." He admitted with a laugh. She laughed too, this movie reference she understood.
"You were not at the business end!" She exclaimed. "Staring down the barrel of a gun was less terrifying than waiting for Naomi to be born."
"You were amazing. I have no idea how you did it." He rubbed her shoulder with the hand not holding the brush.
"I did not do it. Hannah did. I have never seen strength like that before." Ziva's voice grew quiet and thoughtful.
"You ok, Ninja?" Tony paused in his ministrations to peer around the side of her face to catch her expression.
"I am fine, Tony. It was just... special. I have seen life end dozens of times before, but to find myself on the other end of the..." She paused looking for the word. "Ugh, it has something to do with fish."
"Scale." A smile warmed Tony's voice.
"Precisely. I was on the other end of the scale today. It has made me think." She finished.
"Yeah... never been there myself before. Had a woman go into labour in the back of my cruiser in Baltimore once, but handed her over to the paramedics long before it got that messy." Tony agreed. "But seeing a kid born was kind of amazing, gross, but amazing."
"A baby Tony... Naomi is a baby." Ziva's voice was soft, tipping her head back as he parted her hair into three.
"What's on your mind Zi?" Tony questioned.
"It has just made me think differently. Seeing a person's first breath instead of their last. How powerful Hannah was, even in a dirty old warehouse. If you had asked me this morning how I felt about babies, I would have said that they were cute at a distance. That I do not have the necessary qualities to be a good mother. And to have a baby myself, well... my life made it impossible. There is no space for that."
"And now?" He prompted.
"Now... I am still not sure I am suited. I am driven so much by duty, a child needs love." She mused with uncertainty.
"You would be an incredible mother Zi," Tony reassured without hesitation. "You're brave, strong, smart, determined, compassionate... everything a kid needs to grow up awesome... and you're more capable of love than you realise." They still hadn't exchanged those words yet, but Tony felt love in everything she did for him.
"Thank you." The smile was evident in her tone. "But, despite my misgivings I would like the chance to try. I have spent so long taking life, I would like the opportunity to create it, with someone I care about... to experience the gift I saw Hannah receive for myself."
"Hmmm..." Tony agreed, "I was kind of scared of babies till today. Kids sure, they're cute and funny and you can buy them off with candy. I always wanted kids, not so much a baby. But now, I can't help but think how amazing it would be to see my own."
"Precisely. But I would need to make a lot of changes for that to be possible. Being a field agent for one. However, I think, in time, I'd be willing to make those changes and they would not be as great as I feared."
"Lots of mothers work, Ziva… having a baby doesn't mean you'd have to give it up." He secured the braid and Ziva turned to face him, sitting cross legged on the mattress.
"They do not work as I do. A job that can take them away for days or weeks... or permanently. If I become a parent, I would want my child to know that I would come home in the evening. That her bed is her own, and that I will be there to tuck her in." Her eyes dropped, and Tony read between the lines to understand that Ziva had not always had the same certainty. "I do not wish to be at home forever, but I would want a role that allowed me to keep that promise to my child."
"What about her father?" Tony asked softly, Ziva took his hands.
"She would know that her father would not ask her to fight for her country before she was old enough to vote. That anything he asked her to do would not chance her death. That his love was not conditional." Her hands tightened on his and Tony squeezed back.
"Don't suppose I meet that criteria?" He questioned hopefully.
"Do not count your hens Tony. I have only just come to the conclusion that I may like to have a child. But yes... if motherhood is in my future, then I would want it to be with you. I hope that does not scare you?" Although her tone was steady, her face was hesitant, this was bigger than anything they'd discussed previously.
"The idea's as new to me as it is to you, my Ninja. But, yeah, I can't really imagine myself doing that with anyone else. I saw something new in you today, when you were holding Naomi at the hospital... took my breath away. Think I'd like to see it again, only... " He didn't finish the rest of the sentence, but Ziva could hear where it led, the hope that he would get to see her cradling their own newborn daughter one day.
"I like the sound of that." Ziva agreed. "One day."
"How'd we get here, Zi...? I mean we only just took our first vacation as a couple. Now we're planning a kid?"
"We are not planning anything. Just checking that one day, in the future, we may want the same thing." Her voice was reassuring, gentle, but promise and hope simmered between the words.
"Sounds to me like we do, cara mia. You gotta give me some time though, I only realised a little DiNozzo Junior might be nice today as well."
"There is no rush at all Tony. We have all the time in the world." Ziva assured him with another kiss.
"Kinda like the sound of that." He murmured against her lips.
"And until we are ready, for the real thing, I see no harm in practicing. Just to make sure we have things correct" She added with a sultry smile. Tony wasted no time in taking the hint, and making sure they knew exactly what they were doing.
A/N:
Shaifeleh (thanks google) is a Hebrew word meaning innocent child.
When Tony replies "it means I never have to work again" he is quoting Don McLean's explanation as to the meaning of the song American Pie. We already know Tony loves his pop culture and movies, so it stands to reason he'd be well aware of classic songs and some of their trivia as well.
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